Tongs or wrench



Jan. 18,1927. J GRANT TONGS OR WRENCH Filed Nov. 21. 1922 INVENTOR, 55m afar/102?;

A TTORNEYJ.

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN GRANT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TONGS 0R WRENCH.

Application filed November 21, 1922. Serial No. 602,321.

This invention relates to tongs or Wrenches, and more particularly to a device of this class for operating heavy work or objects, such as oil-well casing and tubing which involves the necessity of an especially effective frictional grip upon the work. This in turn tends to produce deformation or injury of the work which often produces fracture or breakage in the work under the torsionalstresses produced. The invention has for an object the provision of an improved wrench or tongs of the character stated, which will effectively engage, and ensure operation or movement of, the work, While at the same time causing no deforma tion or injury thereto so as to impair its efficienoy or inherent strength.

Further objects consist in the provision of an improved wrench or tongs of the char acter stated, which will be generally superior in point of inexpensiveness and simplicity of structure, facility in assemblage and convenience in operationand durability, aswell as efficiency and serviceability. With theabove and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in claims.

In. the drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentarytop plan view of a casing or pipe wrench or tongs constructed and organized in accordance with the present invention, the parts being shown in work-engaging, positions and relations;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the entire structure, of the wrench or tongsshown in Fig. 1, the parts being in positions or relations assumed just prior to application of the tongs to the work;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view showing temporary locking and releasing .meansupertinent. .to theliolding of the. parts in therelations and positionsshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary view of a.

portion of the showing in Fig. l'disclosing a modified form of construction, with the.

parts nearly inwork-engaging relation;- and Fig. 5. is a detail transverse sectional view, taken upon the line 5-.-5, Fig. 1, and looking in the. direction oftheappended arrows, the

. workbeingomitted.

. Corresponding. parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, A designates a lever-handle or handle member of a pipe, wrench ortongs such as shown in the drawing, as one'embodiment of the invention, the same'cooperating in service and performance with work-embracing ineansB which coact at both ends with the handle member A. Temporary locking and releasing means C coact with the handle member and such work-engaging means. Said work-engaging means comprise a flexible metallic strip 5 looped at one end-and returned and' secured to itself as at 6,'such loop embracing a transverse pin 7 between side plates 8 of the handle member A. Such flexible metallic member isprovided with a fabricor textile or yielding or compressible lining 9 and its outer end is looped about another transverse pin 10 between spaced cheeks 11 provided with a still further transverse pin 12 about which is looped one end of a flexible elongated metallic strip 13 providing an inner yieldingfor compressible textile fabric or like lining 14, the outer end of the strip 13 being in turn looped about a transverse pin 15' between side cheeks 16 connected together by a transverse pin 17 and terminating in a transverse nose-piece 18. The checks 16 are adapted to enter the space between the side plates 8 of the handle member A, and such side plates are provided with locking recesses 19 adapted to receive the outer ends of the transverse pin 15, to inter-engage such cheeks 16 and their associated parts with the handle member A, after the means B have been caused to embrace the work. The inner end portion of the handle member A is curved or of arcuate formation in the side plates 8, as at 20, to bearagainst the work which is shown in section in Fig.1 at 21, in the form of, a length of welltubing or casing. Afurther elongated metallic. plate .22 1 may be connected with. the metalliciplate v13 between the inner terminal portion of the lining 14v andthe transverse pin 12, namely, as at 23, and may further be provided with an inner lining of compressible or. yielding textile fabric or other material, indicated. at 24, the same being shown as of greateriarcuate extent than thelining 14E of. the metallic plate 18, al-

though the particular dimensions of such linings are not material to theipractice-of the invention, so beit that a sufficiently and materially: ex tended. superficial contact of -of fixed connection thereof with the metallic plate 18 is at the inner end 23 of the plate 22.

The locking means C comprise an elongated leaf-spring member 25 which is bolted or otherwise flexibly secured at its inner end to the handle member A intermediate the ends thereof, as at 26, the outer end thereof being returned upon itself to form a loop 27 adapted to co-act with the metallic strips or straps 5 and 13 which embrace the pins 10 and 12 respectively, and to ride from its position of co-action with the first named thereof, 10, into co-action with the pin 12 and over a nose 12 projecting therefrom, into the position indicated in Fig. 2, so as to releasably maintain the parts and features in the relations shown in Fig. 2 preparatory to bringing the device into operative association with the work 21.

In Fig. 1 a modified form of construction is shown in which the side cheeks 8 of the handle member A are provided with corresponding elongated slots 28 inclined with respect to the longitudinal axi of the handle member A and inwardly toward the inner end thereof. These slots must lie in a chord of an are centered at the center of the pin 7 and cutting the center of the pin 15 when it is at the entering end 28 of said slots, thus to secure the pin 15 in place.

The pin 7 is removable from the handle member A, thus permitting the substitution of other work-engaging means B including the various parts and features connected with the metallic strip 5 and metallic strip 18. A flange 29 extends between the cheeks 16 preventing with the pin 7 overswing of such cheeks and associated parts at the pin 1.5. Similarly, a flange 30 extends between the handle side plates 8 adjacent to the pin 7. A grip 31 is provided upon the handle member A for convenience in lifting, suspending or operating the same, and a strengthening or reinforcing band or rib 32 is applied to the elongated metallic strip 13 opposite to the lining 14, being secured thereto approximately centrally as at 33, but not otherwise, s0 as to permit flexion of such strip 13 away from such reinforcement but to prevent its undue :tlexion in the opposite direction.

In using a tongs or wrench device embodying the invention, such as shown in the drawing and above described, the parts are presented to the work in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, and when brought into contact with the work, as at the strap 5, the jar and resilient re-action upon the straps 5 and 13 causes the release of the nose 12 from the'locking loop 27 on the locking spring 25, and further causesthe means B to onlliirace the work, whereupon the pin 15 enters the recesses 19 or the slots 28, automatically and positively locking the means B in association and operative engagement with the work. The handle member is then operated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, causing an effective binding action of the linings 9 and 14, or, when the additional member 22 is provided of the lining 24, directly upon the work, and a tight frictional engagement of the means B with the work ensues, causing it to be moved or turned, and effective to produce such results with high eihciency under application of great power, without damage to the work, such as might deform or injure the work and cause it to break or fall. A subsequent return stroke of the handle member Acauses a release of the work from frictional engagement by the means B, and the inner end of the handle member A, and this may be followed by repeated oscillations of the handle member alternately turning the work and bringing the device or wrench to position for a fresh operative stroke.

When it is desired to release the work the pin 15 is simply disengaged from the recess 19 or slots 28, and the means 13 are thrown into the position shown in Fi 2 wherein they are releasably retained by the locking means C.

The use of the two metallic straps 13 and 22 with their linings 14: and 24: causes a double frictional or built-up grip upon the work with an increased factor of yield or compression of lining material, as between the work and the outermost metallic strap.

It is obvious that many changes and variations may be made in adapting the improvements to varying conditions of use and service, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An improved tool of the character disclosed, comprising an elongated handle memher, a first flexible metallic strip connected with said handle member and provided with a non-metallic lining, a second elongated metallic strip provided with a non-metallic lining, means pivotally joining said metallic strips, and means for connecting the outer end. of said second named metallic strip with said handle member to embrace the work; releasable locking means being mounted. upon the handle member and cooperating with said means pivotally joining said metallic strips and normally maintaining said metallic strips in work-receiving positions with relation to said handle member.

2. An improved tool of the character disclosed, con'iprising an elongated handle memher, a first flexible metallic strip connected with said handle member and provided with a non-metallic lining, a second elongated metallic strip provided With a non-metallic lining, means pivotally joining said metallic strips, and means for connecting the outer end of said second named metallic strip With said handle member to embrace the Work; a

reinforcing metallic strip being mounted upon said second named metallic strip and connected therewith intermediate its ends but free therefrom at its other portions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN GRANT. 

